Fla. police chief over Martin probe in exit talks

SANFORD, Fla. 
The central Florida police chief who was strongly criticized for his agency's initial investigation of Trayvon Martin's slaying is in talks with Sanford city leaders about departing, the chief's spokeswoman said Wednesday night.

"They had a discussion this morning, but the details were not worked out, and that is how it was left," Brady said. She said she was uncertain whether Lee still technically worked for the city or not.

Messages left by the Associated Press for Bonaparte and other Sanford officials weren't immediately returned.

The initial lack of an arrest following the fatal shooting of Martin, an unarmed black teenager, by a neighborhood watch volunteer led to protests across the nation and spurred a debate about race and the laws of self-defense. Zimmerman's father is white and his mother is from Peru.

The local prosecutor recused himself from the case, prompting Gov. Rick Scott to appoint special prosecutor Angela Corey, who charged Zimmerman in April with second-degree murder. The 17-year-old Martin was fatally shot following a Feb. 26 altercation with Zimmerman, who claims self-defense and has pleaded not guilty.

Lee took a leave of absence in March and offered his resignation in April. The city council rejected Lee's resignation by a 3-2 vote. Several council members indicated they wanted to let a Department of Justice review of the police investigation play out before making a final decision.

In May, Rick Myers took over as Sanford's interim police chief, saying he wanted to heal the emotional wounds caused by Martin's death. He has said he would reach out to people in Sanford who feel they've been ignored by the police. If Lee's employment with the city is terminated, it's unclear whether Myers will take over permanently for Lee or a new chief will be hired.